Career Coaching is Also Recommended for Students

Deciding which tracks and strands to pursue in senior high school or which course to sign up for in college can be stressful. Test results, peers, and concerns about future success are a few of the factors that contribute to the anxiety during decision-making. Some students are strong in several areas and choosing which one to focus on can cause confusion.

Consulting a career coach with job market experience, training in coaching and counseling, as well as certification in personality and career assessments can make the process easier. The step by step exercises in a career coaching session can generate better insight and help students come up with a good, informed decision they feel satisfied with.

“During one on one meetings, we work on making a choice which best fits their personality, skills, and values. I help them understand themselves better so they can decide based on this self-awareness and not be driven by fear. I also provide knowledge of their environment and give them ideas on what they might do in their future job. This helps them validate their initial preference or sometimes debunk some wrong beliefs they previously used as basis,” details career coach and licensed psychologist Malou Treñas-del Castillo.

These appointments usually run for about an hour and are held in a counseling room. “By asking them the right questions, the teens are able to sort through their concerns in an objective environment,” points out Treñas-del Castillo who recently wrote a book, “The Career Roadmap: Your Personal Guide to Corporate Career Success”.

The 140-page easy read is divided into four parts. The first one helps you find your purpose and figure out what you’d like to do. “Much dissatisfaction and restlessness comes from employees who are unsure of what type of job they really want, and what their goals are. The book helps them identify what is really important to them so they can find the best job that they can stick to,” elaborates Treñas-Del Castillo. Next comes the practical side of going after the dream job where she shares real relevant tips about job search, how to make an impact on resume, how to do well in interviews, and then how to negotiate. “These are practical tips that many of us are not aware of especially if we’ve been in a job for a very long time”. After that, Treñas-Del Castillo discusses managing corporate life and its different aspects like trying to fit it, playing office politics, and getting promoted, among others. The last part is about resignations or getting retrenched. “I’ve had a lot of clients who found even better jobs after they are affected by involuntary separation,” discloses Treñas-Del Castillo who finds fulfillment in providing guidance so people’s lives will improve. Aside from advice and anecdotes, there is a worksheet portion for most sections. Priced at P350, it is available at select branches of National Bookstore: Mall of Asia, Greenbelt, Glorietta, Market! Market!, SM Aura, SM Megamall, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Trinoma, and Ayala Fairview Terraces.

Treñas-Del Castillo also does corporate engagements. She conducts talks and workshops on hiring and interviewing – how to find the best people, long-term goal setting, finding your purpose, finding the best fitting career for you, how to manage relationships in the work place, and how to get promoted. She is also sought after on the topic of career shifting.

For appointments, email malou.delcastillo@thecareerroadmap.net or send her a message on Instagram, @malou_psychologist_coach.